I shall informe your Honours what I know in this matter Court Where did they meet Mr. Stone 1. At London in Travers Egertons Gardiners and Barbers House 2. in Cambridge at St. Johns 3. in Northampton at Mr. Johnsons and Snapes house 4. at Kettering in Mr. Dammes and my House Court When did they meet Stone 1. Since the beginning of the last Parliament of which they had great hopes Court Who met Stone Cartwright Travers Egerton Clark Gardiner Brown Barber Somerscales Chatterton Gyfford Allen Edmunds Gellibrand Culverwell Oxenbridge Barbon Flud Snap Johnson Sibthorpe Edwards Spicer Fleshwore Harrison Littleton Williamson Rushbrook Baxter King Proudtome Mastre Bradshaw Dammes Pallison Okes Atkinson and my Self and several Schollars of Oxford and Cambridge Court This is ingenuously done of you Mr. Stone and we look upon you as a man in whom there is no guile Stone I can do nothing against but for the Truth let Truth and Justice take place et ruet Mundus L. B. L. Thus one Linke being slipped out the whole chaine was quickly broken and scattered this one discovery marred all their meetings there being none now that could trust or be trusted Court Yet they were not quiet but being disappointed one way they attempted another for one Travers ordained beyond Sea and of so great repute among that party that with Mr. Cartwright he was invited to be a professor at St. Andrews upon Mr. Melvins motion being setled at the Temple a Lecturer endeavoured to gaine the great Interest of the Law on his side and there opposed Mr. Hooker about predestination the Church of Rome c. with a design as some think to make parties there for other purposes untill he was silenced by the Arch-Bishop 1. because he was not lawfully ordained 2. because he preached without Licence 3. because he had disturbed the peace and that wholsome order of Her Majesties That no Opinions should be publickly refuted but that notice should be given to the Ordinary to hear and determine such cases to prevent publick disturbance L. B. C. It was that he looked for that he might as he did afterwards in a supplication to the Councel set his Patron Cecil and others to revive the Good old Cause which if opposed by others as he knew they would be would be Patrons to that Cause if not for conscience yet for their honour Court He knew that if once great men be inveigled to appear they will go through with It. What became of this Master Travers L. B. W. When he could not prevaile in England he went to try whither he might reforme Ireland and to that purpose very cunningly got to be Priest of Trinity Colledge neer Dublin where he might have the advantage to instill his Principles into the Youth of that Nation and so secure to himself and Part if not this yet the next Generation Court Now it may be presumed that the Church of England had rest round about P. H. Not so for these men finding that people were weary of small diffences about Cap Surplice c. that they might have some just occasion to oppose the Church one Dr. Bound set up Judaisme in a Book asserting that Christians are bound to as strict an observation of the Sabbath as the Jewes by a precise rest from all recreations feasts study and whatsoever but praying hearing reading and holy conference which Doctrine was very taking for its own purity and their piety that owned it Court The cunning of these men while the Bishops are providing for Ecclesiastical authority against their Discipline they leave that as not so considerable among the vulgar and set up extraordinary directions for the Lords day which while the Church opposed it was looked upon as ungodly and prophane and now it was that this party got the opinion of purity and holiness among the people which was no small advantage to their Cause the piety of the persons being a fair way to perswade the world of the truth of their opinions but how were these men maintained when they were suspended P. H. Mr. Cartwright had a Catalogue of sixteen hundred sixty three Patrons who allowed the least of them five pounds a year towards the maintainance of that way and it is observed of him that he was very rich and it s known that Mr. Travers left Zion Colledge an excellent Library with 60 l. worth of Plate Court Some of them gained more by their private conferences then by their publick preaching they could otherwise have expected CHAP. IV. King James Reign COurt But now Queen Elizabeth was dead these men thought they were sure of King James who was alwaies bred under them and frighted to their way in his Mothers belly what was their carriage upon that alteration Sand. One Mr. Pickering a Northamptonshire Gentleman a favourer of that way rid post with the newes of Queen Elizabeths death to King James and no doubt took his occasion to urge something in favour of the Nonconformists but how far and with what answer he moved the King is uncertain But Dr. Tho. Nevill Dean of Canterbury sent by Whitgist brought back a wellcome answer of his Majesties purpose to uphold and maintaine the Government of the late Queen as she left it setled Court King James foresaw the dismal things the World was to look for from those men as appeares by his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He knew that a Presbytery as well agreeth with Monarchy as God and the Devil they are his own words He knew no Bishop no King L. B. C. Yet Mr. Cartwright dedicates his Comment on Ecclesiastes to King James and the Presbyterians prepared a Petition before hand against the Parliament sat managed by Mr. Hildersham Mr. Egerton which though called the millenary Petition yet with seven hundred and fifty two Preachers hands was it presented to the King and Parliament Court How did the King like this canvasing for hands L. B. E. His Majesty foreseeing that they were likely to trouble him and the next Parliament granted them a Conference at Hampton Court where Dr. Reynolds Sparkes and Mr. Knewstubs and Chadderton appeared on the one hand Bishops Bancrost Mathew Bilson Babington Rudd Watson Robinson and Dove Dr. Andrews Overall Borlow and Bridges Field and King appeared Court What did they desire Dr. R. 1. That the Doctrine of the Church of England should be kept pure for now to make us more odious they quarelled with our Doctrine 2. That good Pastors might be planted in all Churches to teach the same 3. That Church Government might be sincerely ministred according to Gods Word 4. That the Book of Common Prayer might be fitted to more increase of Piety Court What would they have altered in the Doctrine A. They would have predestination and perseverance more clearly held forth Court By all meanes and the Church must be now looked upon as unsound in Doctrine as it was afore corrupt in Discipline yea the nine Lambeth Articles and all the controversies about them
Princes that looked towards Reformation Mr. Hooker Your advice we highly value as esteemed by us the most learned and wise man that ever the French Church did enjoy since the hour it enjoyed you yet you must understand that it did not become you to obtrude upon the Church of England a new way you had found out for the City of Geneva agreeable to the temper of that people and that time so disagreeing with our temper and our time especially since you could not bring that way to Geneva it self without the consent of the people Two things of principal note there are which deservedly procure you honour throughout the Christian World 1. Your exact institutions of Christian Religion 2. Your no less industrious exposition of Scripture according to those institutions in which two things whosoever bestowed their labour after you you gained the advantage of prejudice against them if they gainsaid you or of glory above them if they consented yea that which you did in the establishment of your way was harmless as being necessary but what you have taught for the countenance of it established is blame-worthy because out of love to your own prudent invention you endeavour to perswade the World that what you found out as yesterday was established by God since the beginning of Christianity we take it not well that what you with much ado imposed upon your own people by your own should be imposed upon us as from Divine Authority and that you should to that purpose disparage the antient Rites of the Church as Ineptiae nugae trifles and I know not what O Mr. Calvin Mr. Calvin There will come a time when three words uttered with charity and moderation shall receive a far more blessed reward then three thousand Vollumes written with disdainful sharpness of wit We wonder that you who said That you did highly approve a Forme of Prayer Doctrine and established Administration of Sacraments which it should not be lawful for the Ministers themselves to neglect that Provision might be made for the ignorant and unskilful 2. That the consent of the Churches might be more apparent 3. That Order may be taken against the desultory levity of them who delight in Innovations We wonder that you should encourage some Zelots at home and abroad to procure so many alterations of and enemies to the Common Prayer in the year 1547. and 3. of King Edward the sixth in so much that Reverend Father Latimer was faine to say in a Sermon before King Edward a little before his Death That the Admiral was gone I heard say he was a seditious man a contemner of Common Prayer I would there were no more in England well he is gone I would he had left none behind him Bish. Bancroft Mr. Calvin was not the only man that disturbed the peace of our Church by countenancing these Innovations and practising in Court City Country and Universities by his Agents till he had laid the first Foundation of the Zuinglian faction who laboured nothing more then Innovation in Doctrine and Discipline Court We pray you Sir what was the maine engine that Mr. Calvin used to bring his way into so much credit and esteeme among us Bish. Bancroft By insinuating to some men well affected the practise of the poor reformed Churches who not being able to set up the Primitive were over-ruled by his authority to comply with his way and gaining an improvident Indulgence unto John a Lasco with a mixt multitude of Poles and Germans to have the Priviledge of a Church for him and his distinct in Government and Worship from the Church of England by Letters Pattents in St. Augustine neer Broadstreet to be hereafter called the Church of the Lord Jesus whence we may observe 1. Of what consequence it is totolerate any people though never so inconsiderable in a way of separation Mr. Durel Dr. Basile Whereas it was suggested by several that most Reformed Churches walked in the way of Calvin and that the Church of England must submit to that way to preserve its Communion with other Churches We will make it appear that there is no Rite Ceremony or order of the Church of England but is observed in some of the Reformed Churches and some of them are observed in all Court Thus encouraged from abroad and indulged at home that party began to appear more publickly And you Mr. Bucer and Dr. Peter Martyr must needs seruple at some Ceremonies Vestments the one as Kings professor at Cambridge the other as Margaret professor and Cannon of Christ-Church in Oxford though with such moderation as that we have no more to say to you but that we are sorry the oversight of those times furnished the Universities and filled up the Chaires with men of your Principles to lay up in those nurseries of Religion and Learning the seed of a separation dissent and chisme that may continue as long as this Church stands we are sorry to hear that you Doctor Bucer refused some Ceremonies at Cambridge especially that you would not use a square Cap because forsooth your head was Round We are sorry likewise that you Dr. Martyr should encourage the Nonconformists in your Letter July 1. 1550. by saying that You thought it most expedient to the good of the Church that they and all others of that kind should be taken away when the next opportunity should present it self for say you as we iudge unchariteably Where such Ceremonies are so stiftly contended for as are not warranted and supported by the word of God there commonly men are less sollicitous of the substance of Religion then they were of the cicumstances of it and that you say in your Letter of the 4. Nov. 1559. that you never used the Surplice when you lived in Oxford though you were then a Cannon of Christ-Church and frequently present in the Qaire And for your part John a Lasco you might have been contented with the great indulgence of a gracious Soveraign to set up a Church with an express order to all the Bishops of the Realm not to disturbe you in the free exercise of your Religion and Ecclesiastical Government notwithstanding that you differed from the Government and formes of Worship established in the Church of England and not have abused his Majesties goodness so far as to appear in favour of the several factions which then began more openly to shew themselves against the established orders and laudable Customes of the Church and to write that scandalous Book called Forma Oratio totius Ecclesiastici Ministerij much to their encouragement who impugned all Order and Discipline and you must countenance those that refuse to wear the Cap and Surplice and to write to Dr. Bucer to declare against them for which you were severely reproved by that moderate and Learned man Doctor Martyr Doctor Bucer and John a Lasco Truly we are very sensible of the great favours we
Church Hooper While you hope to gain Papists into the Church you will lose many Protestants out of it Court You discredit other Bishops who have used this Habit. Hooper I had rather discredit them then destroy mine own Conscience A. B. C. How think you being a private person to be indulged with to the disturbance of the publick Uniformity of the Church Hooper If it please your Grace but to read these Letters I hope you will be satisfied A. B. C. These are to desire that in such reasonable things wherein my Lord Elect of Gloucester craveth to be borne withall at your bands You would vouchsafe to shew him your Graces favour The principal cause is that you would not charge him with any thing burdenous to his Conscience J. Warwick We understand you do stay from Consecrating our well beloved Mr. John Hooper because he would have you omit and let pass certain Rites and Ceremonies offensive to his Conscience whereby ye think you should fall in Premunire of Lawes We have thought good by advice aforesaid to discharge you of all manner of dangers penalties and forseitures you should run into by omitting any of the same and these our Letters shall be your sufficient Warrant aud discharge EDWARD REX My Lord of London What shall we do if we indulge him we open a gap for licentiousness if we refuse him we incur his Majesties displeasure Ridley Bp. Lond. Publick Uniformity shall never be broken to satisfie a private humour I had rather displease his Majesty then break his Lawes especially seeing I observe it is the design of the whole faction to feel the pulse of authority for Mr. Calvin hath written already to the Lord Protector to lend Mr. Hooper an helping hand whereby we are to understand that the whole Party is engaged Court Truly Mr. Hooper though we honour your Parts and Piety yet for your contempt and disobedience we can do no less then send you to Prison Hooper May it please your Honours having consulted with Peter Martyr and Mr. Bucer and with some of his Majesties most Honourable Privy Counsel I shall very willingly wear my Episcopal Robes at my Consecration and attendance upon his Majesty upon condition I may be dispensed withal from wearing it at ordinary times as my daily Habit. Court Much must be allowed his Majesties most Honourable PrivyCounsel much to your piety and worth and much to peace but let no man presume upon the like indulgence for the future Bish. Gardiner Who do I see there Mr. Tims are you not a Deacon What do you appear in a Coat and Stockings of divers Colours is that a fit Apparel for a Deacon Tims This Vesture doth not so much vary from that of a Deacon as your Lordships from that of an Apostle Court You forget your self Take him Jaylour this is the effect of Indulgence Bish. Ridley Mr. Rogers I pray do you come hither you are Prebend and Lecturer of Pauls why do not I see you in your Cap and tippet as the other Prebends your Brethren Mr. Rogers I will never agree to that part of Conformity but on this Condition that if you require the Cap and Tippet c. then it should be also decreed that all Popish Priests for a distinction between them and others should be constrained to wear upon their Sleeves a Chalice with an hoste upon it Court Nay Mr. Rogers do not you teach us how we shall Govern the Papist but learn you how to obey yourself Bish. Horne I pray Mr. Prolocutor why did Mr. Philpot leave the Convocation house lately Prolocutor According to the laudable Customes of this Realm and Church I put Mr. Philpot to his own choice whether he would wear the Cap the Tippet and other Ornaments which Divines wear to which he was then averse or depart the Convocation house he fairly forsook the House Court Alas to what sad times are we reserved when a few mens fancies and opinions shall controule the whole Church what will be the issue of these extravagancies Did you hear how one Sir Steven of Christ-Church about a moneth ago Preached down the Names of Churches Dayes and Moneths that Fish-dayes should be altered and Lent should be at any time but between Shrovetide and Easter Did you hear how he went from the Church to the Elmes to preach and from the high Altar to the Church door to read Communion service what will be the end of these things Principlis obsta Do you hear how many Letters Calvin hath sent to this Realm 1. To the King exciting him to proceed to a through Reformation according to his project Another to the Counsel telling them how many things were amiss in the Church and Kingdome And another to the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury certifying him that there was an whole mass of Popery in the Common Prayer CHAP. II. Queen Maries Reign COurt Whilest mutual animosities were heightened between the Opposers and Asserters of the Liturgy Providence put a period for a time to that Controversie in England such who formerly would not soon afterwards durst not use the Common Prayer Mass and Popery being set up by Queen Mary in the room thereof As when Children fall out and fight about the Candle the Parents coming in and taking it away leave them to decide the differences in the dark Do you think this Controversie died with the happy times of King Edward No the poor Protestants carry it over with them to banishment 1. To Embden in East Friezland 2. To Weasel in the Low-countries 3. To Arrow in Switzerland 4. To Strasburg 5. To Zurich 6. To Francford on the Meyne Mr. Fuller will you be pleased to acquaint the Court with the Opposition made against the Church of England at Francford Fuller If you take no more delight in hearing then I in discoursing on so doleful a Subject you will shew little cheerfulness in your faces and less joy in your hearts yet will I relate this sorrowful accident impartially the rather because the Pen-knives of that age are grown to Swords in ours and their Writings laid the foundations of the fightings now adayes Court Proceed Sir to the History of these Nonconformists when the Protestants were banished in Queen Maries dayes Fuller The English Protestants came first to Francford Jun. 24. and on the 14. of July had a Church allowed them by the special favour and mediation of Mr. John Glauberg one of the chief Senators of that State but upon condition that they should not dissent from the French in Doctrine or Discipline or Ceremony least thereby they should minister occasion of offence And in conformity to the French 1. They concluded that the answering aloud after the Minister should not be used 2. The Letany Surplice and other Ceremonies in service omitted as superfluous and superstitious 3. That there should be another Confession of more effect as they said and framed according to the state and time 4. That after a Psalme
a Prayer for the assistance of Gods spirit and the Sermon with the Articles of Belief with another Psalme they should dismiss the people with a blessing 5. That there should be a prayer for all the Church after Sermon Court What strange alterations are these but were they contented to set up this new way among themselves Fuller No but they require those of Zurick to come thither and joyne with them in that new way Declaring the necessity of joyning themselves in one Congregation where they might serve God in purity of Faith and integrity of life having both Doctrine and Discipline free from any mixture of superstition But they of Zurick excused themselves 1. Because they saw no necessity that all the English should repair to one place it being safer to adventure in several Bottoms 2. Because they were peaceably seated and courteously used at Zurick and did not see how they might be all entertained at Francford 4. Because they were resolved not to recede from the Liturgy used in England under the Reign of King Edward the sixth Court How began the trouble at Francford Fuller Mr. Chambers and Mr. Grindal came from Strasburgh with a motion to those of Francford that they might have the substance and effect of the Common Prayer though such Ceremonies and things which the Country would not bear might be omitted Whereupon Mr. Knox the Pastor of Francford and others drew up a Platform of the English Liturgy as used in England under Edward 6. Court I pray what was Mr. Calvins Judgement of it Fuller He in a Letter of 20. Jan. 1555. saith That in the English Liturgie there was not that purity which was desired to be and although these things were at first tolerated yet it behooved the Learned Grave and Godly Ministers of Christ to enterprize further and to set forth something more filed from Rust and purer Court What was the effect of this Letter Fuller This struck such a stroke especially in the Congregation at Francford that some therein who formerly partly approved did afterwards wholly dislike and more who formerly disliked did now detest the English Liturgy Court O sad at first some Garment and Vestures were disliked then some passages in the Liturgy and now the whole Liturgy it self but we entreat you go on Fuller The Learned and Prudent the pions and resolute Dr. Cox coming out of England and arriving at Francford with several other men entred the Congregation Mar 13. behaving themselves according to the Customes Rites Ceremonies of the Church of England which Customes the Pastor Mr. Knox preached against as superstitious impure and imperfect and withal prevailed with Mr. Glauberg so far that he publickly professed that if the reformed order of the Congregation of Francford were not therein observed as he had opened the Church door to them so would he shut it again a. a. a. Court Who was active there against the Church besides Fuller One Will. Wittingham one though of less authority yet of as much affection to the cause as Knox himself who could not endime the great English Book for so he called the Liturgy Court What did these say for themselves Fulier They murmured that Arch-Bishop Cranmer had composed a far more pure Liturgy but the corrupt Clergy they said would not admit of it Court Who else opposed the Church of England Fuller One Ashley who set up the people above the Ministers and occasioned the drawing up of a new Discipline which occasioned new troubles and the choice of new Pastors untill by the mediation of Dr. Sandy's and others they were perswaded to some tolerable agreement Court I pray let the persons concerned answer to their Names Register Mr. Williams Mr. Knox Mr. Wittingham Mr. Fox Mr. Gilby Mr. Goodman Mr. Cole Mr. Wood Mr. Keth Mr. Kelk Mr. Hilton Mr. South-bouse Mr. Purfote Mr. Escot Mr. Grafton Mr. Walton Mr. Kent Mr. Hellingham Mr. Carier c. Court Could neither the love of peace nor compassion of your suffering mother nor the offence of the Reformed Churches nor your own dangers keep you within compass order government Nonconf We aimed at pure Reformation an holy communion with other Churches and the peace of Protestants Court Truly you have layed the foundation of the most dangerous Schisme that ever was in the World and what the issue may be God only knoweth and late Posterity may suffer O why cannot you agree seeing ye are distressed brethren O why cannot the great things wherein you agree unite you rather then the small matters wherein you differ should divide you Greatly doth concerne all of you in your places and orders to put to all your powers prayers and interests for preserving the Unity of the spirit in the bond of peace that in nothing you give offence to the Church of God rather be willing to silence and smother your private judgements and to relinquish your particular liberties and Interests to question and mistrust your singular conceits and fancies then to be in any such thing stiffe and peremptory against the quiet of Gods Church the weak to be humble and tractable the stronge to be meek and merciful you the Pastours to instruct the Ignorant to reclaime the wandering to restore the lapsed to convince the froward with the spirit of meekness and compassion And trouble not your Superiours by ungrounded Scruples uncharitable prejudices or unquiet and in the end uncomfortable singularities If any consolation in Christ if any comfort of Love if any fellowship of the Spirit if any bowells and mercies Be ye like minded take heed of strife of vaine glory of pride in your own conceits of censure of your brethren of private respects lay aside your own reputation have such humble judgements as that you may be willing to learn any though unwelcome truths and to unlearn any though a darling errour have such humble lives and purposes as that you may resolve to obey with duty whatsoever you are not able with reason to gainsay to the suppressing of those unhappy differences wherewith by the cunning of Satan the Church of God is like to be too much disquieted Whosoever therefore by pride or faction schism or ambition or novel fancies or arrogance or ignorance or sedition or popularity or vain glory or envy or discontent or correspondence or any other carnal reason shall cause Divisions and offence we shall not need load them with any other guilt then the Apostle doth That they are not the servants of Christ Ro. 16. 17. You that are Governours rule with authority and meekness you that are Teachers teach with wisdom and compassion that you cut off occasion from those that seek occasion and may open a way by peace and holiness to your Native Country CHAP. III. Queen Elizabeths Reign COurt There is a restless party that will never suffer the Church to be quiet who when they could not prevaile by force at Francford endeavour to carry on their design by Policy from Geneva For